Echinacea plant named ‘Noam Saul’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Noam Saul’, characterized by its upright and columnar plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; numerous long-lasting single inflorescences with white-colored ray florets with large inflorescence discs; strong flowering stems that hold the inflorescences upright; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea purpurea×Echinacea paradoxa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Noam Saul’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea purpurea×Echinaceaparadoxa, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Noam Saul’.

The new Echinacea plant originated from a cross-pollination during thewinter of 2006 of Echinacea purpurea×Echinacea paradoxa ‘Adam Saul’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No. 12/321,352, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Echinaceapurpurea×Echinacea paradoxa, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Echinacea plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination grown in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Dahlonega, Ga. in the spring of 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by tissue culture in acontrolled environment in Alpharetta, Ga. since the spring of 2007, hasshown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Noam Saul’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Noam Saul’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea:

-   -   1. Upright and columnar plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Numerous long-lasting single inflorescences with        white-colored ray florets with large inflorescence discs.    -   5. Strong flowering stems that hold the inflorescences upright.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Adam Saul’, plants of the newEchinacea differ primarily in ray floret color as plants of ‘Adam Saul’have dark pink-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the newEchinacea are more vigorous than plants of ‘Adam Saul’.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the newEchinacea are more freely flowering and have larger inflorescences. Inaddition, leaves of plants of the new Echinacea are narrower than leavesof plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinaceapurpurea ‘White Swan’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Dahlonega, Ga., plants of the new Echinacea differed fromplants of ‘White Swan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea were more compact than plants of        ‘White Swan’.    -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea had shorter leaves than plants of        ‘White Swan’.    -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea were more freely flowering than        of plants of ‘White Swan’.    -   4. Plants of the new Echinacea were fragrant whereas plants of        ‘White Swan’ were not fragrant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Echinacea. The photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Echinacea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Noam Saul’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences and leaves of ‘Noam Saul’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Dahlonega, Ga. during the springand summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practiceswhich approximate those generally used in commercial Echinaceaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom about −2° C. to about 33° C. and night temperatures ranged fromabout −17° C. to about 21° C. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants had been growingfor one year when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea×Echinacea paradoxa    ‘Noam Saul’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Echinacea purpurea×Echinacea paradoxa ‘Adam            Saul’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No.            12/321,352.        -   Male parent.—Unnamed selection of Echinacea            purpurea×Echinacea paradoxa, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at 22° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days            at 32° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright and columnar plant habit;            freely basal branching with about 13 basal branches;            terminal and axillary inflorescences potentially developing            at every node and are held upright on strong peduncles;            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 45 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 33 cm.        -   Basal branches.—Length: About 41 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 4.25 cm. Aspect: Upright. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent; rough. Color: Between 144B and            145A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 8.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 147A; venation, close to 147B. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; lateral            veins, close to 147B; midvein, close to 150D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.25 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Rotate single inflorescence form with ray and            disc florets; inflorescences terminal or axillary;            inflorescences potentially developing at every node with            about 26 open inflorescences per plant at one time;            inflorescences held upright on strong peduncles.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate; sweet.        -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from the spring            through the summer in Georgia.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about four weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About            7 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 147B to 147C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.6 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.6 cm. Receptacle            height: About 1 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 7 mm            Receptacle shape: Conical. Receptacle color: Close to 155D.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Elongated oblong. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate; fused            into a short corolla tube. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number of ray florets            per inflorescence: About 14 arranged in a single whorl.            Aspect: Initially upright to eventually reflexing; slightly            concave. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 155D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex five-pointed. Length:            About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Number of disc florets            per inflorescence: About 252. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Immature, apex, mid-section and base: Close to 144A.            Mature: Apex: Close to 155D. Mid-section and base: Close to            144A.        -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret. Length:            About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to            acicular. Apex: Sharply acute. Base: Tapering. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Apex: Between 17A and 21A.            Mid-section: Close to 144A. Base: Close to 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 48 in about            three whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 15 cm. Length,            uppermost axillary peduncle: About 12 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Angle, terminal peduncles: Erect. Angle, axillary            peduncles: About 30° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent; rough. Color: Between 144B and 145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamens per disc floret:            One. Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to            145D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 146C. Pollen amount: None observed.            Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft;            reflexed. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to            157A. Seeds/fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Echinacea.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −17° C. to about 37° C.

1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Noam Saul’ as illustratedand described.